20-week abortion ban heads to gov.

Bryant says he'll 'quickly' sign bill into law

12:27 AM,
Apr. 2, 2014

State Capitol dome in Jackson.

Written by

The Mississippi Legislature on Tuesday passed a ban on abortions at 20 weeks or more gestation, without exceptions for rape or incest that some lawmakers had proposed.

The vote was 90-21 in the House and 41-10 in the Senate. Both chambers had previously passed similar versions of the bill and voted down attempts to add rape and incest exemptions. The bill would allow exemptions in cases where the mother's life is in danger or where it is determined the fetus has no chance of survival.

House Bill 1400 now heads to Gov. Phil Bryant, who called it a "great effort to protect the unborn in Mississippi" ...